K-POP girl group EXID taking on 2018!

EXID is a girl group that got their start in February 2012 with the single “Whoz that Girl.” However, they did not gain popularity until a live recording of their single “Up&Down” went viral in 2014. They went on to release their first album, Street, in 2016. Following the album’s release, it was announced that one of the members, Solji, had to go on hiatus after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Yet, with the release of the mini album, Full Moon, on November 7th, 2017, Solji was able to start helping with the recording process again. EXID currently monthly releases remastered versions of b-side tracks from their old albums as a part of their “Re:Flower” project. Their latest installment was a remake of the track “Will You Take Me” from the album Street, which was released on February 12th, 2018.

K-POP girl group EXID taking on 2018!

EXID is a girl group that got their start in February 2012 with the single “Whoz that Girl.” However, they did not gain popularity until a live recording of their single “Up&Down” went viral in 2014. They went on to release their first album, Street, in 2016. Following the album’s release, it was announced that one of the members, Solji, had to go on hiatus after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Yet, with the release of the mini album, Full Moon, on November 7th, 2017, Solji was able to start helping with the recording process again. EXID currently monthly releases remastered versions of b-side tracks from their old albums as a part of their “Re:Flower” project. Their latest installment was a remake of the track “Will You Take Me” from the album Street, which was released on February 12th, 2018.

SJ : Let us start with how you all are doing. Are you working really hard these days?

LE: I'm working, exercising, and preparing for the new album. Hani: I'm preparing very hard for our next album.

Jeong-Hwa: I'm spending time for self-reflection to prepare for our new album.

SJ : What is a day like in the life of EXID?

LE:I usually enjoy staying at home, so I try to do everything at home.

Hani: It's different for all members, but we all complete our individual schedules.

Hyerin: If I don't have a schedule to complete, I always wake up late, go to a lesson, work out and meet up with a friend.

Jeong-Hwa: I work out, study a foreign language and watch movies and dramas at home.

SJ: What should fans be looking forward to from EXID in 2018?

LE: Hmmm...better music!

Hani: We think it would be possible for EXID to come back as a complete group! I think the fans are waiting for this too.

Hyerin: We're trying to see the fans a lot like we did last year so I would love the fans to continue cheering for us.

Jeong-Hwa: They can look forward to the complete EXID and for the precious memories we will make together.

SJ: How has 2017 been for you? What was the best part of 2017 for EXID?

LE: It was a little tiring to work without Solji, but it was a very memorable year. Every moment was the best.

Hani: Every moment I spent with the members was precious. If I was to choose one, it would be when Solji surprised us during the founding ceremony.

Hyerin: Time flew in 2017. The most memorable moment was when Solji surprised us at the Seoul mini fan meeting.

Jeong-Hwa: 2017 was a year where I learned a lot of things as a team as well as about myself. It was also a year that I loved myself the most. The best moment of EXID as a group would be the moments when all 5 of us were together such as the mini-concert, reality TV filming, jacket shooting, etc.

SJ: Can you tell us one unique thing about each of you?

LE: All of us have very weird and unique laughs.

Hani: Solji is very social, LE has skill in finding something new from something we are familiar with, Hyerin is a delightful and lovely person, Jeong-Hwa is a great listener and has kind and healthy mind.

Hyerin: Solji is a daddy, LE is a mommy, Hani is a careless big brother, Jeong-hwa is mature little one, Hyerin is an auntie who cooks well.

Jeong-Hwa: Solji has a laugh that makes other people feel good, LE has a great sense of humor, Hani's life is just a sitcom, Hyerin is an energizer.

SJ: What music are you listening to these days?

LE: Primary-I know

Hani: I listen to EXID songs again. I love our songs. LE is the best.

Hyerin: DEAN – Instagram

Jeong-Hwa: Moon Moon – Aewol

SJ: Who are your favorite artists/musicians/actors?

LE: Tom Hardy

Hani: Vice-chief Oh from drama "Miseng", Actor Lee-Sungmin

Hyerin: Ohk Juhyun

Jeong-Hwa: Actress Jung Yumi

SJ: Did you make any New Year Resolutions for 2018? Can you tell us?

LE: To see more things and to feel more

Hani: Challenging myself to try new things

Hyerin: Wishing I can do a lot of meaningful things

Jeong-Hwa: The word for 2018 is "Express". I want to express myself more.

SJ: What is EXID's greatest wish in 2018?

LE: To grow more.

Hani: Concert as an entire group.

Hyerin: Solo concert.

Jeong-Hwa: To be in front of our fans as an entire group of all 5 members.

SJ: What are each of your favorite hobbies?

LE I'm enjoying decorating my house these days.

Hani: Reading comic books.

Hyerin: Watching movies, Skateboarding

Jeong-Hwa: Watching movie at home, Watching drama.

SJ: Do you have a message for your fans, both in and outside Korea?

LE: EXID will work harder so be with us as always. I love you all!

Hani: Always thankful for all your love. I wish our fans can be happier with us.

Hyerin: We will try harder to get closer to you guys so continue to be with us.

Jeong-Hwa: LEGOs! No matter if we are far apart or close to each other, we are always feeling your love. Thank you always. I wish you guys can feel our love too. I love you!

Boy Group with Limitless Potential Debuts

BLACK6IX debuted with the song “Please” in April 2017 with their first teasers dropping in March, 2017. Seoul Journal interview the six members of the boy group, formed under Black Hole Entertainment: TaeYoung, The King, Yey, YongSeok, Jong-woon, and Ziki.

Boy Group with Limitless Potential Debuts

BLACK6IX debuted with the song “Please” in April 2017 with their first teasers dropping in March, 2017. Seoul Journal interview the six members of the boy group, formed under Black Hole Entertainment: TaeYoung, The King, Yey, YongSeok, Jong-woon, and Ziki.

SJ : What are your feelings on your debut song and music video?

Tae-Young:We were thrilled to be making the debut that we always dreamed of. Creating a music video using the debut song ‘Please’ was fun. We especially made an effort for each member to individually be able to express the meaning that the song contains.

SJ: What is the story behind the name BLACK6IX?

Tae-Young: It means “Unknown boys with limitless potential.”

SJ: What are some of the qualities that uniquely define your group?

Tae-Young: I come up with BLACK6IX's choreography and have played a key role in BLACK6IX as a leader.

Yong-Seok: I think I possess a voice that is soft and pleasing to listen to. And I’m currently practicing to develop my voice further. Although my dancing is not up to par with that of other members, through my passion I am always doing my best when practicing.

Ziki: Although I am lively and playful, if I grab the mike, I think I display a serious demeanor and an attractive rap voice. Also, as the atmosphere-setter of the team, I increase the efficiency of group practice by raising the morale of my fellow members.

Jong-Woon: I act like a mother who always cares for the members. Above all, my biggest influence is on the eating and consumption habits of the group. Yey: First of all, I am lively in personality, and consider myself to be positive and friendly to others. I play the role of the bright facet in the darkened aesthetic of BLACK6IX.

The-King: I learned to rap on my own, but I never heard that I couldn’t rap while self-studying. Since I am young I am looking forward to the me of the future.

SJ: Who are your favorite musicians from Korea and abroad?

Tae-Young: Chris Brown. Although Chris Brown is a soloist, he doesn’t stick to a single genre and he can do various things such as singing and dancing. I want to become a singer like him who does not lose to groups with many members even though he is alone.

Yong-Seok: I like the group known as ’N Sync. Even when listening to their music now, it doesn’t sound unfashionable. I can still sense the various colors that they try to express. They serve as an important example for us as well.

Ziki: I use G-Dragon as a role model. Of course, there are several foreign musicians who are well-known and distinguished, but G-Dragon is the one who has given me the greatest inspiration and has excellent qualities in various fields such as rap, dancing, lyrics composition, and fashion.

Jong-Woon: I like Jessie J the most. I think Jessie J is a great vocalist who can sing the same song with a different sound every time, even though it is not easy to sing the same song differently to audiences who are so used to listening to your music.

Yey: I like my senior Justin Bieber. I am inspired by the difficult start that he had and he has become a model of music style to me. Although I have a lot of areas that are lacking, I want to become a great artist who learns and acquires the good aspects of his seniors!

The-King: I like The Notorious B.I.G. from overseas. I listened to his rap and discovered real hip-hop style. I think that there is nothing like it in Korea.

SJ: How did you train before your debut?

Tae-Young: We practiced quite a lot before we debuted, trying to address a lot of our deficiencies. Breathing, especially among members, was important, so we tried to focus a lot on breathing together. And because we worked harder on the aspects that we were good at, we were able to do well.

Yong-Seok: As we practiced our dancing routines, if there were any parts our members were uncertain about, they asked and studied and worked together in the process. Because we all know the vocal parts of the song that each member is not good at, we always work hard together and practice the basics in the front of the piano.

Ziki: As a crew member I have been practicing dancing a lot. I have not only accumulated a lot of valuable experience on the big stage such as music broadcasting, SBS Gayo Daejeon, and MBC Gayo Daejaejeon, but also been involved in mix-tape making through featuring.

Jong-Woon: Whenever I practice singing, I do not think of leaving once I have entered the rehearsal room. Once I get into practice and start concentrating, I cannot come out because I am having fun with molding the song. I initially felt distant to the act of dancing, but after I started to feel better in the mirror, I tried to have a little more fun and work hard. Actually, the reason why I’m getting used to dancing is because of my fellow members. The members gave me a lot of confidence.

Yey: Before I entered Black6ix I was doing vocal training and dance practice at an institute. When I was a student, I had a lot of things to do, so I did not have much time to practice. After I graduated from school, I studied and practiced dance actively alone and asked several teacher friends of mine for guidance, and that’s how I came to enter BLACK6IX.

SJ: What is your most memorable moment as a K-POP group?

Tae-Young: It was our debut stage. It’s because that was the debut that we always looked forward to. The moment the broadcast station PD told our nervous selves to celebrate the debut gave us great confidence.

SJ: What is Black6ix’s most important dream as a band?

Tae-Young: Each member will have musicians that he looks up to. We, as people who dream of becoming great musicians like them, would like to be a musical group that everyone knows and goes beyond the top.

SJ: What kind of a song is “Please?” Tell us about your recording experience.

Tae-Young:‘Please’ is a song that delves into the mind of a dejected guy who wants to cling onto a woman, who is leaving him, but cannot hold onto her. When we recorded this song, we all became the male protagonist in the song, focusing on the lyrics one by one and singing with our hearts.

SJ: What can your fans expect from you in the future?

Tae-Young: Our group will make great efforts to show fans the possibilities that we have in store for the future. We will always try to stand in front of our audiences with cooler and better appearances.

SJ: Do you have a message for your fans?

Tae-Young: Thank you so much for loving us, and with our fans’ strength, we will continue to provide a good show. Please continue to support us in the future. We would also like to thank all our fans who support us from overseas and it would be nice if we could meet them in the future. Please wait! We love you all. Thank you.

Fashion is not just about clothes

Creative director of pushBUTTON, Seung Gun Park, introduced the brand in 2003 as a young up-and-coming designer. Since its launch, pushBUTTON, who heavily draws influences from 80s fashion, has established itself as one of South Korea’s premier brands. Park prides his work as a gender-neutral fashion line and continues to push the boundaries by creating no boundaries to his collection. Seoul Journal had a chance to talk with Seung Gun Park to dive deeper into his creative process.

Fashion is not just about clothes

Creative director of pushBUTTON, Seung Gun Park, introduced the brand in 2003 as a young up-and-coming designer. Since its launch, pushBUTTON, who heavily draws influences from 80s fashion, has established itself as one of South Korea’s premier brands. Park prides his work as a gender-neutral fashion line and continues to push the boundaries by creating no boundaries to his collection. Seoul Journal had a chance to talk with Seung Gun Park to dive deeper into his creative process.

SJ : What is the most important idea pushBUTTON bases its designs on?

PARK: Edge and wearability at the same time. We’re adding some details on the traditional silhouette. These details are edgy and also it’s our own wit. Moreover, I think the pocket is really important on clothes so all our pieces have pockets. The pocket is not only useful but also makes an influential point to attitude when someone wears and stands with the clothes.

SJ : What do you think is the primary reason why pushBUTTON’s pieces are so appealing?

PARK: Easy to mix and match in styling. We’re doing twists on basic [designs]—but it’s not too much, so they think it’s unique and easy to wear.

SJ: On an everyday basis, where do you find inspiration and motivation?

PARK: From music videos and movies, I always search [through] and find some visual moments from films.

What is the kind of person you are designing for?

PARK: Somebody who wants to stay beautiful for a long time, like people who are interested in taking care of their looks.

SJ: What, in your opinion, are fashion essentials for every woman?

PARK: Attitude. It’s not about having to dress up every day, but to want to keep their beautiful and youthful energy constantly. When they wear clothes, they need to have a confident manner – this is the attitude.

SJ: What do you do as a hobby?

PARK: Drive. Even though I do not drive myself, I like looking out the window and listening to music while driving. Especially, I listen to the radio broadcasting instead of some recorded music playing and sometimes I get inspiration from random-played music.

SJ: You are already well-established in Korea. But what other markets do you think your designs would work well in?

PARK: We're considering all markets where they want our brand character. Actually, we're well-known in China, but we're going to strengthen our sales foundation more in the Chinese market.

SJ: Why do you think Korean fashion is so unique?

PARK: It reflects very contemporary trends, and each designer makes their own signature details on these trends at the same time. So there are maniac fans for each brand

SJ: Is there a single person that you would attribute a large part of your success to?

PARK: We're putting a premium on teamwork – each team has important duties among themselves and all teams are working closely. We cooperate very well. All staff are contributing on my brand.

SJ: What advice would you give to someone looking to make their mark in fashion?

PARK: Fashion is not just about clothes. See more in everything across genres like music, movie, furniture, art, any culture, vintage elements, etc. and try to wear as many different clothes as possible.

Jo Dong-rim, better known as Mad Clown, is most recognizable for his sharp and high-tone rapping. He worked with South Korean singer Soyou on the song "Stupid in Love" and was featured on "Anxious" by Melody Day. His song "Fire" went to number one on the Gaon Music Chart, and he was a judge on the popular rap reality show "Show Me the Money's" fifth season and "High School Rapper." Seoul Journal discussed his career and future plans with Jo Dong-rim.

Jo Dong-rim, better known as Mad Clown, is most recognizable for his sharp and high-tone rapping. He worked with South Korean singer Soyou on the song "Stupid in Love" and was featured on "Anxious" by Melody Day. His song "Fire" went to number one on the Gaon Music Chart, and he was a judge on the popular rap reality show "Show Me the Money's" fifth season and "High School Rapper." Seoul Journal discussed his career and future plans with Jo Dong-rim.

SJ: Why did you choose the name Mad Clown?

Mad Clown: I'm a big fan of Leessang and I love their song, "Clown." Without thinking, I just put ‘clown' in my name and added the word "mad." That was all! It has no great meaning actually.

SJ: When did you start rapping?

Mad Clown: It was around 2004 when I began writing lyrics.

SJ: What created your interest in hip-hop?

Mad Clown: I got into hip-hop since I was in the middle school, I played with "b-boying" and developed an interest in hip-hop. Now I'm here.

SJ: Who are your favorite artists, both Korean and international?

Mad Clown:: Recently, I found this rapper Smino, and his music was so fantastic. I think he is going to achieve great success and I am crazy about D'Angelo's music. The album "Voodoo" is always good in every time and in every mood. That's really sick. Dumbfoundead is also cool.

SJ: Is there a song you can also listen to without being bored?

Mad Clown: "Feel Like Makin' Love" by D'angelo.

SJ: Could you tell us a bit about your new album?

Mad Clown: It's a remarkably straightforward album. The way the melody was released with the lyrics is very hard-hitting. I wanted to make a good pop album with my style. The title of the song and the album, Love Is A Dog From Hell came from the poem by Charles Bukowski. In making this album, it gave me great inspiration.

SJ: What is your favorite thing to do outside of music?

Mad Clown: I love jogging the most. Playing Playstation is also the best! I was practicing b-boying hard, but my knee isn't good so I'm taking a rest these days.

SJ: To you, what is the most important thing to express through your art?

Mad Clown: Am I exaggerating my thoughts and feelings? To put it in another way, "How honest am I?" People can't be honest all the time one hundred percent. When you use language, you even misunderstand yourself. Then how about others? This is the point: to express yourself to others in an effective way. I try to be very specific when I write lyrics. If there's a subject, I don't try making it understandable to people by itself. I draw a picture with the words to show them what I think. Sometimes I fail, but this is the main key for me to stay satisfied with my music.

SJ: How do you find inspiration for creating music?

SJ: What are some of your most memorable moments as an artist?

Mad Clown: When I was on stage for the first time in my life, I barely saw the audience. I stood on the audience's back and just mumbled while holding the microphone. That was around 2006 and I can't forget it.

SJ: What do you think is the most important thing anyone should keep in mind when making music?

Mad Clown: Even if you are not that skillful, I'd say you should have your style and color more than skill. A plate is just a plate. The content you have on it is the most important thing.

SJ: Other than South Korea, what is your dream country to perform in?

Mad Clown:Definitely the U.S.A!

SJ: Is there an artist that you would love to collaborate with?

Mad Clown: I would like to collaborate with the beat maker Mr. Carmark, of the U.S.A, if I have a chance.

SJ: What has been your proudest achievement?

Mad Clown: I made money doing music and raised a decent family with it. I also lightened my parents' worries.

After being closed to the public for 50 years, the West Seoul Lake Park, or Seoseoul Lake Park (서서울호수공원), reopened in October of 2009.In the name of ecology and beautification, the park reclaimed the Sinwol Water Purification Plant, which was transformed under the themes of “water” and “recycling”; some of the existing piping and filtering tanks were reused so that they are now sculptures and benches in this beautifully landscaped park. The West Seoul Lake Park is truly breathtaking, and for those out there who enjoy the addition of industrial paths that weave through a natural setting as if climbing through a forgotten land, this park is a must-visit while in Seoul.

After being closed to the public for 50 years, the West Seoul Lake Park, or Seoseoul Lake Park (서서울호수공원), reopened in October of 2009.In the name of ecology and beautification, the park reclaimed the Sinwol Water Purification Plant, which was transformed under the themes of “water” and “recycling”; some of the existing piping and filtering tanks were reused so that they are now sculptures and benches in this beautifully landscaped park. The West Seoul Lake Park is truly breathtaking, and for those out there who enjoy the addition of industrial paths that weave through a natural setting as if climbing through a forgotten land, this park is a must-visit while in Seoul.

A large lake with a walking path circling around it takes center stage in the park, making it much like Seonyudo Park that sits in the middle of the Han River. A brightly colored 100 seat picnic table, sound fountains that shoot off whenever an airplane flies into the nearby Gimpo Airport and a small water park for children are also draws to this area if the architectural design isn’t enough.

The Mondrian Garden located inside the park is where you might feel like you’ve taken a step right into Seonyudo Park. The pipes are left bare, and pillars that once held up a building have been left behind with plants to grow around them. Water flows abundantly, and people can choose the catwalks above or the pathways between the waterways down below to wander around the area. This park provides not only a placeof rest and relaxation, but it also offers some fun backdrops for selfie takers and photographers.

Address:

Nambusunhwan-ro 64-gil, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul

서울특별시양천구남부순환로 64길 (신월동) 일대

Directions:

Bus: 388, 651, 652, 653, 662, 6014, 6624, 6625, 6627.

Subway: Go to Hwagok Station and take exit 5. Catch bus 652, 6627 or 6625 from there and get off at the Seoseoul Lake Park stop.

Hallie Bradley is the creator and writer/photographer for the blog The Soul of Seoul. Originally hailing from Dayton, Ohio, USA, she has been living and working in Seoul, Korea since 2006. She writes on her travels in Korea, daily life, the culture and traditions as well as lessons learned from her Korean husband and in-laws.

Sometimes the hustle and bustle, noise and chaotic surroundings of Seoul can become a bit too much to handle, and a quick getaway becomes necessary to maintain sanity. During the summer, the humidity can be so intense in the city that taking a walk is more like swimming through hot, heavy air, and the only cure to really get that deep breath is to find a breezy coast and calming ocean tide sounds. Taean-gun (태안군) is a perfect place for a weekend getaway during a weekend in any season.

Sometimes the hustle and bustle, noise and chaotic surroundings of Seoul can become a bit too much to handle, and a quick getaway becomes necessary to maintain sanity. During the summer, the humidity can be so intense in the city that taking a walk is more like swimming through hot, heavy air, and the only cure to really get that deep breath is to find a breezy coast and calming ocean tide sounds. Taean-gun (태안군) is a perfect place for a weekend getaway during a weekend in any season.

Not so close that you feel like you haven’t left Seoul, but not too far that it takes an entire day of travel, Taean-gun is situated on the west coast of Korea in Chungcheong-do. There are around 30 beaches to choose from in the county, as well as TaeanHaean National Park, (태안해안국립공원) in the county. If you have one night and two days to head out and you want to go to Taean-gun, here’s what you should do to take it all in:

Mongsanpo Beach (몽산포해수욕장)

Get yourself to Mongsanpo Beach to take that necessary first dip, walk or wade into the water or just enjoy the view. . The pine tree lined 3.5 kilometer long beach is wide and offers up loads of shellfish and other sea life at low tide. There are also places to camp, pensions to stay in and minbaks for those looking to get a cheap night’s rest on the floor. This beach is also NOT one of the more popular in the area, which means there’s space to spread out and just find that all important quiet serenity outside of the city. It’s where you can take a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy your time away.

Take a walk along Solmoraegil (솔모래길)

Solmoraegil is “the road of pine trees and sand”. The course is part of Taeanhaean National Park and was opened in 2011. It stretches 12.7 kilometers from Mongsanpo Beach down to Deureunihang Port passing by the beaches of Cheongpodae, Baeksajang, Sambong and Gijipo. It’s one of the most famous walking paths in the area and offers a great way to explore more of the beautiful beaches that make up the coast of Taean-gun. Websites suggest this walk takes about four hours but if you’re meandering, enjoying your time and taking a dip when it’s hot outside, it’ll probably take a bit longer.

Anmyeon-do Island Recreational Forest (안면도자연휴양림)

Wake up early and head to the forest, the recreational forest of Anmyeon-do. The tall 120 year-old pine trees were once managed by the royal family of the Goryeo Dynasty. These tall pine trees are gorgeous and towering, and if you go in the early morning you might manage to miss the many families that are eating their lunch or a snack beneath the shade that they provide.

Kkotji Beach (꽃지해수욕장)

After visiting the recreational forest and getting in a good walk among the massive trees, you’ll probably be ready for another dip in the coastal waters or just another break on the seaside coast. Kkotji Beach is just 10-15 minutes up the road, and though it is said to be one of the best places to view the sunset from in the country, it offers a breathtaking view at any time of the day. The beach is 3.2 kilometers long and the gentle slope of the beach makes it perfect for families and friends. At one end, you’ll see two stones jutting up into the sky and there are plenty of restaurants and tents with vendors selling good eats in the area. Take advantage of this stop for a good lunch before you head back to the city.

Hallie Bradley is the creator and writer/photographer for the blog The Soul of Seoul. [SC1] Originally hailing from Dayton, Ohio, USA, she has been living and working in Seoul, Korea since 2006. She writes on her travels in Korea, daily life, the culture and traditions as well as lessons learned from her Korean husband and in-laws.

Building a Global Community

Ambassador Oh Joon is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations. His most recent role at the U.N. was President of the Economic and Social Council, which he served from 2015 to 2016.He currently serves as the President of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having begun his career fresh out of university at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Oh has served as a diplomat both within South Korea and around the world. Working as a senior member of the Korean Foreign Ministry, he has worked at the Republic of Korea Embassy in Brazil and Malaysia, and most recently was Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Singapore from 2010 to 2013. He has also served many roles in the United Nations, where he represented the Republic of Korea in many U.N. bodies. He has also served as President of the Security Council in 2014. Seoul Journal Executive editor Anthony Al-Jamie talked with Ambassador Joon about diplomacy, his experiences, and challenges that face our world today.

Building a Global Community

Ambassador Oh Joon is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations. His most recent role at the U.N. was President of the Economic and Social Council, which he served from 2015 to 2016.He currently serves as the President of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Having begun his career fresh out of university at the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Oh has served as a diplomat both within South Korea and around the world. Working as a senior member of the Korean Foreign Ministry, he has worked at the Republic of Korea Embassy in Brazil and Malaysia, and most recently was Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Singapore from 2010 to 2013. He has also served many roles in the United Nations, where he represented the Republic of Korea in many U.N. bodies. He has also served as President of the Security Council in 2014. Seoul Journal Executive editor Anthony Al-Jamie talked with Ambassador Joon about diplomacy, his experiences, and challenges that face our world today.

SJ: What was your early life like?

OH :I lived in the area that is now called Bukchon, or North Village, kind of old town Seoul. When I was a child in the 1950s and ‘60s, Seoul was very different from what it is today. I think the main village from North Village was quite fitting [for me], because that part of the city, which was already at the center of Seoul, had old traditional neighborhoods, and people still lived in traditional lifestyles. There were not many automobiles in the streets, and some people were still using ox carts to move heavy things around.My father was also a diplomat, but his foreign posting only took place before I was born, so I never had the chance to travel outside Korea until I joined the diplomatic service much later. So I grew up in a very traditional, very Korean setting.If there was anything different from others in my early life, that must have been my parents’ experience of living in Los Angeles, where they met and got married. My father was a Korean diplomat, and my mother was a student at the University of Southern California. I was born after they came back to Korea. When I was a little kid, my parents still had some leftovers from their life in LA, such as a television set.Back then there was no television broadcasting in Korea yet, so they basically would watch AFKN (American Forties Korean Network) which broadcasted all these early American TV shows. My folks used to tell me about their life in America, which must have influenced me one way or another. That’s my early life.

SJ: Did your parents teach you English?

OH: They spoke to me in Korean, of course, but my mother was the one who taught me English first when I was in primary school. After studying at the University of Southern California, she came back to Korea and became a professor of English Literature at a college.At that time,students learned English in middle school, but I started to learn English in primary school. So that was a little bit of an advantage I guess.

SJ: At what age did you know you wanted to work in the field of diplomacy and international relations?

OH: As I said, my father was also a diplomat, but he left the diplomatic service before he could become an ambassador, which my mother felt sorry for.My mother probably wanted me to follow my father’s path and become a diplomat, but it was not so obvious in my early years. My parents basically left me alone when it came to what I wanted to make of my life and what I wanted to study in college — basically that was my choice. When I was in college, I first wanted to be a journalist after graduation.But people around me recommended that I take the diplomat service exam, partly because I was able to speak a few foreign languages like English, Spanish, or even German. They thought I could easily pass the exam, which I did. I didn’t have the chance to try journalism. But once in diplomacy I found that it suited me, and my folks were happy to see me enjoying diplomatic service, even though both of them passed away before I made an ambassador.

SJ: How was the experience of being Ambassador in Singapore?

OH: I enjoyed my posting in Singapore. I’ve been in the service for 36 years and I’m about to retire, and I think I spent at least over two thirds of my entire career on multilateral diplomacy, meaning diplomacy dealing with international relations like the United Nations. So for me, having a bilateral posting was quite rare, and the only places I was posted, other than New York, were Singapore, Malaysia and here. I enjoyed my time in Singapore. I also think this posting was quite important, because even though Singapore is a small city-state, they are very competitive in everything.They’re becoming a kind of model case for national development and for national competitiveness — so that was a good experience.

SJ: What is your role as Ambassador to the United Nations?

OH: I represent my country in the United Nations. You know that the U.N. is an international organization — really the only universal international organization in New York we have. There are 193 member states currently, and I’m representing the Republic of Korea.We are very active in the UN actually.

SJ: What is the most challenging aspect of the position?

RYU: As I said, we are quite active in the U.N., not least because we joined United Nations as a full member quite late — we became a member state in 1991. That was six years after the creation of the United Nations. We were late, because North Korea insisted that the two Koreas should become a member of United Nations as one nation after unification. But as you know, unification never came, so we, South Korea, thought that no, we should become a U.N. member as soon as possible, and be able to contribute to the work of the United Nations. So in 1991 both South Korea and North Korea joined the U.N.as a member state. Actually, this month, we commemorated the 25th anniversary of our membership. In the U.N., we have been very active. In a way we were quite prepared when we joined the U.N. — we had been a state for a long time before joining the United Nations. We prepared ourselves. We served in the Security Council twice, we produced U.N. Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, we produced a president of the General Assembly, and I myself served as a president of the Economic and Social Council, which is one of the main organizations.

SJ: Has it been an advantage to have Ban Ki-moon as Secretary-General?

OH: Yes, of course,Mr. Ban is a proud son of Korea, and even though he does not represent Korea in the U.N., he is head of the U.N.Secretariat. Having him at the head of the U.N. Secretariat is not only a proud thing, but also has promoted the image of Korea abroad.

SJ:You said that you represent Korea at the U.N., but you also have to represent the U.N. in Korea. Which is more difficult?

OH: : Both of them are important parts of my work. I don’t know which is more difficult. [Laughs]

SJ: What is the most important skill that you need to be an ambassador in the UN?

OH: In general, to become a good diplomat, you need the ability to speak foreign languages, and you better be well versed in international affairs by studying orby watching what is happening in the world. But personally I think it is important to be open-minded from an early age. In this globalized world, where the world is really shrinking fast and we live in a global village, being open-minded to others­— others meaning others with different cultures, different ethnicities, different religion — is very important, because human beings by nature are not really open to others. We don’t feel comfortable being with other people and working with others [who are different from us.] We are more comfortable with people who look like us, who think like us, who speak like us. But in this world you cannot live like that. You have to constantly deal with people who are different from you. Especially if you want to be a diplomat — that’s your job, so I think that being open-minded is very important.

SJ: Are you open-minded by nature, or do you have to work hard on that yourself?

OH: I think I got it through my career, through my life. Of course, there have been errors I made; there have been lessons I learned. I sometimes give this story to people. The first foreign city I lived in was London in 1982, and there were only four Korean restaurants in London. When you go to a Korean restaurant, whatever you order, they usually give you all those small dishes. But in those days in London, Korean restaurants didn’t do that. They charged for each individual small dish — they charged for kimchi, they charged for anchovies, whatever small dishes usually come with your order. I was working in the Foreign Service, so I was probably better off than any other student, and I went to those restaurants whenever I liked, and I ordered whatever I liked. One day, I was eating by myself, and I noticed that in the next table, there was a Korean student who ordered only a bowl of rice and kimchi. And the manager took pity on him and brought soup. When I saw that, I really felt guilty about what I was doing. I just stood up and came out, and I decided I would never eat Korean food as long as possible. I didn’t touch any Korean food for the next three months, and that sort of changed my appetite almost for good. Now I’m very flexible with food­— I eat everything, and those kinds of events sort of give you a chance to think about what you are, and how you can be open-minded to different cultures.

SJ: What advice would you give to young diplomats?

OH: I think that, in the globalized world, a lot of problems we face come from globalization. Globalization has brought a lot of benefits to humanity as well, but at the same time, if you think about it, problems like terrorism, economic inequalities, climate change, refugees, most of these problems are either caused by globalization or exacerbated by globalization. In the past, for example, if you lived in Korea 500 years ago, chances for you to meet any Muslim or any black people were very slim. You would probably never meet them in your entire life, for most people,99% of the time. But now, even if you’re Korean, you meet different people all the time, and you have to deal with them all the time. So what I’m saying is, we need to think about globalization, and we need to use our collective wisdom to come up with ways of maximizing the benefits of globalization and minimizing the negative impact of globalization. I think that’s the path for all of us, but especially for diplomats.

SJ: Can you tell me about an issue that’s close to your heart that you are dealing with in the U.N.?

OH: In the U.N. during my current posting, one of the positions I served was a president of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I think that both professionally and personally, this issue, the rights of persons with disabilities, is close to my heart. Not least because my own mother passed away about 15 years ago after suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and she spent the last three years of her life in a wheelchair. I lived with her and gave her care, and that experience gave me the chance to see the world from the perspective from a disabled person. For example, when you go out to eat, you need to first check whether there is accessibility by wheelchair. Otherwise you cannot choose that restaurant. Whatever you do, you have a different perspective in life if you have a disability. I also realized that at a certain age of our life, we all become a disabled person. It doesn’t matter whether you are disabled for a few weeks, for a few years, or for entire life; all of us, at a certain age in our life, become a person with disabilities.

SJ:Are there a lot of intercultural conflicts that happen in the U.N.?

OH: Yes. As I said, that’s one of the challenges we are faced with in our contemporary world. Because you know, if you look back on instances like 911, and if you look at all those issues that are current, like refugees from the Middle East trying to get to the shore of Europe — many of them get drowned in the Mediterranean Sea — orif you look at the problems caused by violent extremism...All of them, as I said earlier, have to do with the fact thatnow, people with different religions, different cultures and different ethnicities, have to live together and interact with others on a constant basis. It’s not very much in line with human nature to respect diversity, to live with others peacefully. So what we need is to realize this, because we cannot reverse the trend of globalization. The only way forward is to learn to live with others peacefully, and work with others harmoniously, and respect – understand and respect diversity, and respect the fact that others are different from us. I think diplomats are on the forefront of these efforts. So that is why the United Nations is important, because that is where all these debates or interactions take place.

SJ: What would you describe as the most rewarding aspect of your work?

OH:Probably the fact that my work was more about the public. For example, compared to other people who are working for companies or private organizations, my work has mostly been about the global public. When you are a diplomat, you pursue your own national interests sometimes, but at other times you pursue global interests. But fortunately for all of us, the world is getting more and more globalized, and national interests of many countries become more inline with global interests. Climate change is a good example. If you want to improve your own environment in your own country, then you cannot do that without improving the overall environmental situation.Pollution does not know any borders. Pollution moves around across borders. Without all of us working together, you cannot deal with climate change.

SJ: Are there any aspects of Korean culture that you find that others have difficulty understanding?

OH: I don’t know…all the different cultures are unique in their own way. These days, sometimes, some country’s culture becomes very popular and kind of dominant. For example,American culture has been the standard for decades, but these days there has been the rise of k-pop culture, so there are different cultures having different advantages. They come and go. But I think in general we can talk about global culture, world culture, in which whatever is prevalent will be built on by other cultures. I heard someone criticizing k-pop culture as a recycled American pop culture. But American pop culture has been all over the world and all over Asia, and how come only Korea has been able to recycle? That’s because, in my opinion, Korean culture has been flexible enough to build on American culture and to take advantage of American pop culture, and reproduce it as k-pop. So that’s how culture evolves in our world, I think.

SJ:You must be pleased to see Korean culture gaining momentum internationally. What are you most proud of when you tell people about Korea?

OH: I think we Koreans are flexible and resilient. I think that this is not least because Korea is located in the world in the crossroads of civilization in a small peninsula. We got this kind of trait of being resilient and being able to adapt ourselves to new challenges, new changes. So that’s our strength. That does not mean, of course, that we are good at everything. We do somethings okay, but some things badly. I think basically all people have different advantages. We learn from each other, we build on from each other.

SJ: You mentioned about how environmental issues affect all of us. Are there members of the U.N. who still refuse to accept certain fundamental things like global warming?

OH:I don’t think any member state is refusing to cooperate, but it’s more a matter of who’s going to take more forthcoming actions first. We are able to, for example, reduce our carbon emission, which we know will improve air quality all over the world and address climate change, but each individual country has their own argument. For example, developing countries are saying that all these CO2 emissions in the past were caused by developed countries during their industrialization process.The developing countries are now about to industrialize themselves,so they think that developed countries should bear bigger burdens than developing countries — to which developed countries also agree.But we are trying to come up with the best formula that is accepted by everyone.

SJ: What is the single most important issue that the world faces today?

OH: I think it’s the challenges coming from globalization, and how to maximize the benefits of globalization.

SJ: Are there any programs that you support to globalize the world, like the Sister Cities program for example?

OH: Our timeslearned to haveinteractions, exchanges, and cooperation among different people and different countries at all levels, in all sectors. Interactions between countries are no longer monopolized by governmental representatives or diplomats. So, as you said, city-to-city cooperation, or people-to-people exchanges are getting more and more important. This is thanks to revolutionary advances in transportation and communication. It took several months to cross the pacific in the past, but now it takes only twelve hours. Airfare is so cheap — a lot of people can fly. In the early 20st century, flying was a real privilege for some people.Ordinary people couldn’t afford to fly. Now all of us can. So like the Sister Cities program, exchanges among different cities in the world is one way of promoting overall interactions and corporation among countries in the world.

The TrickEye Museum in Hongdae recently had 60% of their artwork revamped and I, along with some friends, was invited out to have some fun and see what they had to offer. Visitors can step into the exhibits and are invited to touch and photograph the artwork to see how the 2D paintings become 3D optical illusions while becoming part of the artwork themselves. The floors, ceilings and walls have been painted with vibrant colors, and arrows are placed on the floor where the photographer should stand to get the full effect on camera, allowing them to capture these “trick of the eye” techniques.

The TrickEye Museum in Hongdae recently had 60% of their artwork revamped and I, along with some friends, was invited out to have some fun and see what they had to offer. Visitors can step into the exhibits and are invited to touch and photograph the artwork to see how the 2D paintings become 3D optical illusions while becoming part of the artwork themselves. The floors, ceilings and walls have been painted with vibrant colors, and arrows are placed on the floor where the photographer should stand to get the full effect on camera, allowing them to capture these “trick of the eye” techniques.

The first exhibit is an underwater world with dragons and sharks, a “note” (really a person in a bottle), dolphins and, some unicorns. Because this is the first room people enter, you can imagine the chaos that occurs here; people fall over each other to get into poses in the right spots. Because the whole room is painted and presented as a backdrop, it’s a bit tough getting pictures without other people in them.Not to worry though, as you go on the crowds dissipate.They seem to tire of so much visual stimuli. My tip: take a few pictures in the first room and then move on. You’ll get away from the crowd and move into a room where the artwork is more spaced out.

The second room is a collection of classical artwork and Halloween-style witches, but this theme ends for a couple rooms until you end up at the newly constructed carnival collection. However, the lack of a theme doesn’t mean pictures aren’t still fun to take.Exhibits where you are seemingly crawling up walls and floating in mid-air will always be fun. Every room is guaranteed to give you the one-of-a-kind pictures you came searching for.

The revamp features a room known as “Carnival Street,”giving visitors an opportunity to become the grotesque and weird that one thinks of when visualizing carnival games. There’s even a mirror maze to walk through at the very end. Some of the artwork is really astounding and if you’re not afraid of looking silly while posing, you’ll be sure to get some good pictures by the end. In person, everyone looks pretty dumb, but once on camera, the images really come alive so don’t be shy.

As an added bonus, we also got to head into the Ice Museum on the same floor. It was freezing, so we didn’t stay long, but in the hot, hot summer this would be a nice respite from the heat. It’s also a good way to get into the Christmas spirit because there are a lot of icy Christmas sculptures. The TrickEye Museum was a little fun on an otherwise ho-hum day. If you’re looking for something to liven up your day in Hongdae, it’s a good place to scope out.

TrickEye Museum

357-1 Seogyo-dong B2 Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hours: 9:00am ~ 9:00pm (last admission at 8:00pm)

Admission: Adults: W15,000, Children/Seniors: W12,000

Directions: Go to Hongik University Subway Station, exit 9. Walk straight until you come to an intersection with a crosswalk and a light. Cross the crosswalk still walking straight from the station and after crossing, turn left. Walk straight and turn right onto the second alley, and the TrickEye Museum will be past the first alley on your right. Amenities: Parking lot (Note: There are very few spots available), bathrooms, caricature artists, cafe with drinks.

Hallie Bradley is the creator and writer/photographer for the blog The Soul of Seoul. [SC1] Originally hailing from Dayton, Ohio, USA, she has been living and working in Seoul, Korea since 2006. She writes on her travels in Korea, daily life, the culture and traditions as well as lessons learned from her Korean husband and in-laws.